William c



(No Model.)

W. 0. CLARKE. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING GAS.

No. 552,100. Patented Dec. 31, 1895.

UNITED TATES ATENT FFicE.

ILLIAM C. CLARKE, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING GAS.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,100, dated December 31, 1895.

A li atio fil d March 21, 1895. Serial No. 542,585. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: tact with the material in the chamber acety- Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. CLARKE, lene-gas is developed. The holder is lifted a citizen of the United States, residing in the by the gas and gradually falls as the gas is 5 city of New York, in the county and State of used at the burners. In case the carbide of 5 New York, have invented a new and Imcalcium is not fully decomposed by its first proved Apparatus for Generating and Supcontact with the water the generating-champlying Illuminating-Gas, of which the followber is again immersed in the water when the ing is a specification. gas-holder has fallen to the proper point, and

Myinvention applies generallyto the use of the operation is repeated until the gas-formro acetylene-gas as an illuminating-gas, and is ing capacity of the material is exhausted. more especially intended to be used in conhen the gas in the holder is all used the nection with the production of such gas by cover is removed, the generating-chamber the mutual decomposition of water and an cleaned out and recharged, and the operation acetylide or carbide, such as the material is repeated as before.

I 5 known, as fcarbide of calcium. As is well In order to provide for a continuous supply, known this material, which may be taken as a while recharging the gas-holder, I provide a type of others of kindred composition and the series of two or more such holders, which are same nature, when brought in contact with all connected to the common riser or feed-pipe water is decomposed together with the water, of the burner system. The several holders 20 giving off as one of the elements of decompoof the series being filled with gas, a downward sition acetylene-gas. This gas burns with a pressure is applied to one of the holders, flame of great brilliance and luminosity; and greater than the others are subjected to, as the object of my improvements is to provide by applying a' weight to such holder. The a safe, simple and economical means and holder thus subjected to pressure leads the 2 5 method for its production and application for others in the delivery of gas, and is emptied illuminating purposes, and particularly in of its contents through the consumption of the ponncction with that class of small gas-plants gas to the burners, while the others still resuch as are used for local purposes-as, for main ready for operation. The pressure is example, in the lighting of country houses. then shifted to another holder of the series,

0 To this end I provide a gas-holder having in while the first is recharged and again filled its upper surface an opening closed by a rewith gas ready for operation. In this manmovable cover, which when in place is made ner the several holders of the series are sucgas-tight, preferably by a liquid seal. To cessively exhausted and recharged as re- 8 5 the cover is attached a cylinder or generatquired without any interruption in the deliv- 3 5 ing-chamber, which when the cover is in cry of gas.

place, projects downinto the gas-holder, and The apparatus is illustrated in the accomwhen the holder does not contain gas into the panying drawing, which shows an elevation water with which the lower part of the holder of a series of gas-holders, one of the series be- 0 is filled. The holder is connected by a pipe, ing in section, to show its internal construc- 0 which projects upward within it to a point tion.

above the level of the water which it contains, A indicates the external shell of the holder with the ordinary delivery-pipe to the burnwithin which is a bell or holder proper B. ers. In using the apparatus the cover is re- The shell A is kept filled with water to such a moved from the opening in the gas-holder and point that when the holder B contains no gas 4 5 the generating-chamber is charged with carits top will nearly rest on the surface of the bide of calcium,which is preferably contained water. From a point within the holder B, ina perforated cartridge adapted forthe purabove the surface of the water, a pipe 0 pose. On placing the cover in position, the connects with the main supply-pipe D,leading IOO generating-chamber is immersed in the water to the burners. In the top of the holder B 50 within the holder, which immediately enters is an opening E, closed with a cover F, which the generating-chamber through openings is supplied with 'a liquid seal G, of water, provided for the purpose and coming in conglycerine,or other suitable liquid. The weight of the cover F and the depth of the liquid seal are such that the seal will not be broken when the holder is raised by the pressure of gas within it. To the cover F is removably attached a vessel or generating-chamber II, which, when the cover I is in place, projects downward into the holder B, and is wholly or partially immersed in the water within the holder when the holder is down. The generating-chamber II is provided with perforations h h, so that when the chamber is in place the water in the holder can come in contact with its contents.

In using the apparatus the cover F is removed and a charge of material which by con tact with water will produce acetylene-gas, such as carbide of calcium, is placed in the generating-chamber II. The material is preferably inclosed within a perforated cartridge or holder, as I, so that the residue of decomposition may be readily removed from the chamber H, and will not escape into and accumulate in the holder B. The cover F is then placed in position on the holder, the generating-chamber II, by the same act, being lowered into the holder and immersed in the water therein. The opening E is closed by means of the liquid seal as the cover F goes into place, so that none of the gas, which begins to be developed as soon as the water in the holder comes in contact with the contents of the generating-chamber, can escape. As the gas is generated, the holder is lifted, raising the generating-chamber out of the water, and the gas is ready for use at the burners. In the same manner the other holders of the series are charged with gas, and discharge their contents through the pipes c c, 850.

Ordinarily I prefer to charge the generating-chamber II with such a quantity of the gas-forming material that it will be fully decomposed upon its first immersion in the water and will provide only sufficient gas to fill the holder at a low pressure. The generatingchamber will, however, be again immersed in the water as the holder descends by reason of the consumption of the gas, and in case any of the material remains undecomposed in the first instance it will ,upon the subsequent immersions be fully acted upon.

In order to provide for the recharging of the holders with gas without interfering with the delivery of gas at the burners, I proceed as follows: Having charged two or more holders with gas, I then apply a slight pressure to one of such holders, as the holder B, which may be done in any convenient manner, as by applying a weight or weights thereto. The

pressure thus applied gives such holder the lead in the delivery of gas, which is drawn therefrom for use at the burners to the exelusion of the other holder or holders, which retain their supply of gas ready for delivery. When the gas is exhausted from the holder under pressure, such holder is cut off from connection with the other holders by means of a valve V in the pipe 0, and the pressure is transferred to another holder in the series, which will then begin to deliver gas, while the exhausted holder is recharged and again made ready for use. In this manner a constant supply of gas is kept on hand, and the several holders can be recharged without interrupting the flow of gas to the burners.

Other means of applying pressure to the holders than that shown may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I may also employ other means of making tight the opening in the top of the holder than a liquid seal, though I prefer this, since by means of it the opening is closed against the escape of gas, even before the cover is fully in place on the opening.

By means of my invention I am able to produce a continuous supply of illuminating-gas in a safe and simple manner and to recharge the apparatus from time to time without causing the escape of any material quantityof gas, advantages which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. An apparatus for generating and supplying consisting of an expansible gasholder having an opening in the top thereof, a removable cover for such opening and a gas gencrating chamber attached to such cover and removable therewith and, when the cover is in place, projecting downward into the gas holder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In an apparatus for generating gas, the combination of an expansible gas holder, an opening in the top of such holder and a removable cover therefor having a liquid seal, and a generating chamber attached to the cover and removable therewith and projecting downward into the holder when the cover is in place, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this ZOth day of March, A. D. 1895.

XVILLIAINI C. CLARKE.

WVitnesses:

CLARKsoN A. OoLLINs, SANDS F. RANDALL.

IOL 

